Park Beom-gye: "Considering entrusting investigation supervision of Yoon family and close associates to the Central District Prosecutor's Office Chief"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye stated that he is considering entrusting the authority to oversee investigations into the misconduct of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's family and close associates not to the Prosecutor General but to the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

On the 5th, while arriving at the Ministry of Justice Gwacheon Office, Minister Park said, "We are reviewing this under the policy of entrusting it to the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in terms of autonomy and responsibility," adding, "No decision has been made yet. This does not exclude directing investigations concerning any specific individual."

Many cases involving former Prosecutor General Yoon's family and close associates are being investigated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The investigation supervision is handled by Lee Jung-soo, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo has been excluded and reportedly has not received any related reports since his inauguration. This is because the directive issued by former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae remains in effect. In October last year, when Yoon was still in office, former Minister Chu excluded the Supreme Prosecutors' Office from supervising investigations into allegations involving Yoon's family and close associates.

Minister Park's remarks on this day are interpreted as meaning that the current system should be maintained as is.

Minister Park also responded to media reports that the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) requested Yoon's inspection materials from the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office but was refused, saying, "I need to review the official letter requesting submission, check precedents, and reconsider the matter."

Regarding the ongoing inspection by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office into the leak of the indictment by Lee Sung-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, he said, "It does not seem to be progressing swiftly," adding, "I understand it is in the final stages, and I hope the Supreme Prosecutors' Office reaches a conclusion soon."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.